Apparatus for operating alarms or other devices.



A. C. ROWLEY.

APPARATUS FOR OPERATING ALARMS OR OTHER DEVICES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25, 1914.

1,138,249. Patented May 4, 1915.

INVENTOR WITNESSES I I BY MAW ATTORNEY ARTHIfB-o. RoWLEY, or PHiLADEIiPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T AssocIATEn AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER 00., OF. PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

APPARATUS FOR OPERATING ALARMS OR OTHER DEFICES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR C. RowLEY, a citizenof the United States, and a resi dent of the city of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Operating Alarms or other Devices, of

i which the following is a specification.

One object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus, or retarding device, particularly adapted to be installed in an automatic fire sprinkler or alarm system, between a source of Water supply and one or more alarm devices to prevent false alarms due to water hammer or brief pulsations in the water supply, but to effect or permit of the operation of the alarm device or devices as a result of a continuous flow of water from thesource of supply through the improved apparatus for a predetermined period.

Other objects of this invention will'appear hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1, is a longitudinal vertical section'of an apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention; Fig. 2, a transverse section on line 22 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3, a transverse section on line 33 of Fig. 1.

' Referring to the drawings, one embodiment of this invention comprises a vertical hollow casing 1' including an enlarged hollow upper portion or head 2 and a .reduced hollow lower portion or neck 3 extending downwardly from the upper portion and forming therewith a. mai receiving compartment or chamber 4 adii Water or other fluid. The lower portion of the casing'l is provided upon one side with a'lateral tubular extension 6 into which is threaded a tubular pipe connection 7 which provides an inlet 8 communicating with the main receiving compartment 4.

When this improved device is connected with an automatic sprinkler system, the inlet 8 is connected to the source of water supply lthrough. a suitable pipe controlled by any suitable alarm valve which is normally closed butjwhich. is automatically opened in a well-known manner when one or more sprinkler heads have been released, and

which is sometimes opened slightlybyintermittent variationsin the pressurev of water in the source of water-supply such as Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 25, 1914. 7 Serial No. 827,111.

ceiving chamber pted to contain from the flat marginal portion 28. .ranged outside of'the lateral cylindrical ex- Patented May 4, 1915.

are caused by water hammers or other intermittent pulsations of water. The alarm valve is ,not shown as such valves are old and well-known in the art. The'upper portion of the casing 1 is provided, in this Instance, with two outlets 10 and 11 which may be connected respectively to suitable alarms or other devices by suitable pipes 12 and 13.' F or instance, one outlet may be connected by 1t s pipe 12 to operate an electrlcal circuit closer. while the other outlets may be connected by its pipe to operate a water motor, or othermechamcal device for actuating an alarm. \Vhen a water motor is used it is preferably provided with a discharge opening below thelevel of the corresponding outlet 10 or 11 of the receiving chamber 4 to relieve the pressure in the re- 4 when the alarm valve is closed.

F orpreventing a premature operation of the alarms or other devices controlled by this improved apparatus, the inner end of the inlet connection 7 is tapered inwardly and terminates in a flat annular valve seat 20 coaxial therewith. Arranged within the lower portionof the receiving compartment 4' and coaxial with the inlet 8, is a valve 21.; which is provided with a flat marginal portion which normally engages against the valve ,seat 20. Thejv'alve 21 is provided with acylindrical valve stem 22 preferably integral therewith and extending inwardly therefrom coaxially therewith. The valve stem 22 is arranged to fit snugly but slidably in a bushing 23 which is threaded through a partition .24 integral with the exterior walls of, the casing 1, and separating the main receiving chamber 4 from a diaphragm or auxiliarychamber 25 formed by a substantiallycylindrical lateral extension 26 of the casing -1. This lateral extension 26 is preferablv substantially coaxial with the valve stem 22 and is provided upon its outer end with an outwardly'extending annular flange 27, the outer surface of which is divided into a flat annular vertical marginal portion 28 and a substantially annular concave portion 29 which extends inwardly tension 26 and coaxial therewith is an elongated-cover 30 provided upon its inner end with an outwardly prO ecting annular flange 31, the inner surface of which is provided with a flat vertical'marginal portion 32 and with a substantially concave annular portion 33.

For moving the valve 20 away from its seat 21, a circular flexible diaphragm 35 made of Monel metal or other similar or suitable material is arranged between the lateral extension 26 and the cover 30. The marginal portion of this diaphragm is securely clamped between the fiat marginal surface 28 and 32 of the flanges 27 and 31 by means of bolts 40 projecting through suitable apertures provided therefor in the diaphragm and in the flanges. The diaphragm 35 is provided with a central aperture in which snugly engages the inner end of this valve stem 22 and a narrow annular portion of the diaphragm surrounding its central aperture, is clamped securely against the outer surface of an annular collar 41 provided on the stem 22, by means of a collar 42 surrounding the outer end of the stem, the collar 42 being secured in position by a locknut 43 threaded upon the stem. The cover 30 is provided on its under side with an aperture 44 to prevent an accumulation of pressure in the cover.

The valve 21 is normally pressed against its seat 20 by a spiral spring 45 which is arranged in the cover 30 and in longitudinal alinement with the stem 22, and one end of which surrounds the inner end of the stem 22 and engages against the locknut 43, and the other end of which surrounds a reduced extension 46 on the inner end of an adjusti ig screw 47 which is threaded axially through the outer end of the cover 30 and which is held in any position of adjust- ,ment by means of a locknut 48 which is threaded upon the screw 47 and engages against the outer end of the cover 30, the outer end 49 of the screw 47 being squared or otherwise suitably formed to receive a wrench.

The diaphragm chamber 25 is maintained at all times in communication with the inlet 8, through a comparatively small or restricted passage 55 which extends longitudinall'y through the valve 21 and the inner portion of the stem 22 and terminates at its inner end in a lateral outlet 56 o ning into the diaphragm chamber 25. This restricted passage 55 is provided with one or more branch passages 57 which lead outwardly through the valve 21 and through which communication is maintained at all times between-the passage 55 through the valve and the main receiving chamber 4.

To permit of a restricted discharge of water from-the interior of the casing 1 when the valve 21 is upon its seat 20 and to automatically prevent such discharge when the valve 21 has moved-away from its seat to its full open position, the bushing 23 is propassages chamber 4 when the valve 21 is closed upon its seat 20, through one or more horizontal passages 62 which extend through the inner endof the bushing 23. The discharge passage 61 is so proportioned in comparison.

with the passages 55 and 57 through the valve that the rate of flow through the 'discharge passage will be somewhat less than the rate of flow through the valve and into the main receiving chamber 4, when the valve is in its normal closed position, thus producing a differential filling of the main receiving chamber 4. The inner end 63 of the bushing 23 is preferably concave and substantially conical in form and. the inner end 64 of the valve 21. is correspondingly formed to fit snugly against the inner end of the bushing 23 and to close the horizontal passage 62 when the valve has been moved a suliicient distance away from its seat 20 by the action of the diaphragm 35 as will be explained hereinafter.

In the operation of this device the valve 21 is normally pressed against its seat 20 by the spiral spring 45 with a force that may be varied by adjusting the screw 47.

When the valve 21 is upon its seat 20, and the alarm valve (not shown) is opened, the water is forced into the inlet 8 and passes through the passage 55, through the valve 21 and its stem 22, and into the diaphragm chamber 25. Some of the water also passes from the passage 55 through the branch passages 57 and into the lower portion of the main receiving chamber 4. The diaphragm chamber 25 and the main receiving. chamber 4 are thus gradually filled with of these horizontal passages 62, and while the valve 21 is held against its seat 20, some of the water is discharged from the main receiving chamber 4 through the horizontal 62, annular recess 60, and discharge passage 61. By suitably proportioning the transverse'sectional areas of these passages 55, 57, and- 62, the filling of the main receiving chamber is permitted to proceed only slowly under the retarding action of the discharge passages 62, 60, and 61, as long as the valve 21 is held upon its seat 20. The inward pressure upon the diaphragm which is caused by the action of the spring 45 is soadjusted by meansof the screw 47 that the valve 21 is held'upon its seat 20 until the diaphragm chamber 25 has been entirely filled with water and until a pressure of about five pounds to the square inch is created in the outlet pipes 12 and 13. After .this has occurred, if the pressure in the inlet 8 is maintained the pressure of the .water in the diaphragm chamber 25 and main receiving chamber 4 acting through the branch passages 57 in the valve and the longitudinal passage through the valve stem acts-to press the diaphragm 35 outwardly and to move the valve 21 inwardly away from its seat 20, and to eventually force the conical inner surface 63 of the valve against the concave end of the bushing 23 thus effecting the full opening of the inlet 8',

and closing the discharge passages 62,

whereupon all of the water that passes in-- wardly'through the inlet 8, will enter directly into the main receiving chamber 4;, and will be eflective to operate the alarm devices connected to the outlets 10 and 11 of the upper end of the compartment 3, and an unnecessary waste of water will be prevented. The passages in the device may be so proportioned that a continuous flow of water inwardly'through theinlet 8 must be maintained for a predetermined period preferably of about 15 or 20 seconds before the interior of the casing 2 will be filled with water and the alarm devices connected to the outlets 10 and 11 operated, as hereinbethrough the inlet 8 is stopped by the closing of thealarm valve (not shown) the pressure in the main receiving chamber is relievedand the valve 21 is returned into contact with-its seat 20 and the water in the receiving chamber and some of the water in the diaphragm chamber is permitted to drain away through the discharge passage 61.

It is evident, therefore, that this improved device, when used in connection with an automatic fire sprinkler and alarm system, will prevent false alarms from being sounded by Water hammer, or by brief fluctuations in pressure in the source of water.-

supply but will respond to operate the alarms when the flow of water is maintained 7 in the device for a predetermined period.

Although only a single form has been shown in which this invention may be embodied it is to be understood that this invention is not limited in its application to the specific construction described, but might be applied in various'forms for various purposes without departing from the spirit of this invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus fully described this invention, I claim and desire to protect by-Letters Patent of the United States:

1. The combination with means providing a receiving chamber adapted to contain a fluid and provided with an inlet leading into' 'said chamber and a discharge passage leading from said chamber, of a valve normally arranged to oppose a'free flow of fluid through said inlet and means cooperating with said valve and arranged to be actuated under a predetermined pressure in said receiving chamber to move said valve to permit a free flow of fluid through said inlet and to close said dischargepassage,

said discharge passage being normally 1n through said inlet and a diaphragm cooperating with said valve and arranged to be actuated under a predetermined pressure in aid receiving chamber to move said'valve to permit a free flow of fluid through'said inlet and to close said-discharge passage,

said discharge passage being normally in re stricted communication with said inlet. 3. The combination with means providing a fluid receiving chamber and an auxiliary chamber, and provided with an inlet leading into said receiving chamber and a restricted outlet leading from said receiving chamber, of a reciprocatory member including a valve normally arranged to oppose a free flow of fluid'through-said inlet, and means connectfore described. When the flow inwardly.

ed to said reciprocatory memberv and arranged to be actuated by a fluid pressure in ciprocatory member, said auxiliary chamber being normally in restricted communication with said inlet.

4. The combination with means providing a fluid receiving chamber and anauxiliary chamber, and provided with an inlet leading into said receiving chamber and a restricted outlet leading from said receivin chamber, of a reciprocatory member including a valve normally arranged to oppose a free flow of fluid through said inlet, and a diaphragm connected to said reciprocatory member and arranged to be actuated by a fluid pressure in said auxiliary chamber to actuate said reciprocatory member, said auxiliary chamber being normally in restricted communication with said inlet.

5. The combination with means providing a fluid receivingchamber and an auxiliary chamber, and provided with an inlet leading into said receiving chamber and arestricted outlet leading from said receiving chamber, of a reciprocatory member including a valve normally arranged to oppose a free flow of I fluid through said inlet, and means connectsaid auxiliary chamber to actuate said reciprocatory member, said aux liary chamber being normally in restricted communication with said inlet through saidreciprocatory member.

&

' said auxiliary chamber to actuate said renormally arranged to oppose a free flow of fluid through said inlet, and means connected to said reciprocatory member and arranged to be actuated by afluid pressure in ciprocatory member, said auxiliary chamber being normally inrestricted communication gith said inlet and with said receiving cham- 7. The combination with means providing a fluid receiving chamber and an auxiliary chamber, and provided with an inlet leading into said receiving chamber and a restricted outlet leading from said receiving chamber, of a reciprocatory member including a valve normally arranged to oppose a free flow of fiuid through said inlet, and means connected to said reciprocatory. member and arranged to be actuated by a fluid pressure in said auxiliary chamber to actuate said recip rocatory member, said auxiliary chamber being normally in restricted communication with said inlet and with said outlet.

8. The combination with means providing a fluid receiving chamber and an auxiliary chamber, and provided with an inlet leading into said receiving chamber and a restricted outlet leading from said receiving chamber, of a reciprocatory member including a valve normally arranged to oppose a free flow of fluid through said inlet, and means connected to said reciprocatory member and arranged to be actuated by a fluid pressure in said auxiliary chamber to actuate said reciprocatory member, said auxiliary chamber being normally in restricted communication with said inlet and with said outlet through said'reciprocatory member. v

9. The combination with meansproviding a fluid receiving chamber and an auxiliary chamber, and provided with an inlet leading into said receiving chamber and an outlet leading from said receiving chamber, of reciprocatory means including a valve arranged between said inlet and said outlet, and a diaphragm arranged in said auxiliary chamber and operative under a predetermined pressure in said auxiliary chamber to actuate said reciprocatory means, said auxiliary chamber beinglnormally in restricted communication with said receiving chamber. 10. The combination with means providing a fluid receiving chamber and an outlet chamber, and provided with an inlet leading into said receiving chamber and an outlet leading from said receiving chamber, of reciprocatory means includmg a valve arranged between said inlet and said outlet, and a diaphragm arranged in said auxiliary chamber and operative under a predetermined pressure in said auxiliary chamber to actuate said reciprocatory means, said aux- ,iliary chamber being normally in restricted communication with said receiving chamber through a passage provided therefor through said reciprocatory means.

- In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 23rd day of March A. D., 1914c.

' ARTHUR C. ROLEY, Witnesses:

A. I. GARDNER, ALEXANDER PARK. 

